News

Braddan Commissioners ‘Goes Green’ for new complex

Recognising the need to reduce both energy costs and greenhouse gases from burning fossil fuels, an Island local authority is continuing to pioneer the inclusion of renewable energy.
Braddan Parish Commissioners has already outlined its commitment to net-zero and future generations in recent developments.
One such example was the recently completed Mullen Doway apartments in Union Mills which have been designed to be eco-friendly with significant insulation, heat recirculation and all electric heating. Now, the new Braddan Community Centre at the Strang, which is undergoing construction, will take solar PV to the next level and include a large 50kWp array, the largest on any Isle of Man Public building. That will provide green and clean energy for the community centre, due to open in spring 2023, and all those who use it.
The long-term investment will also have benefits both in the cost of solar power, compared to electricity, and environmentally with an estimated saving of 600,000kg of CO2 – the equivalent to planting 700 trees.
Commissioners’ Chairman Andrew Jessopp explained: “The decision by the Commissioners to include PV panels in the scheme continues to show the Board’s commitment to reducing the authority’s carbon footprint and to help set a good example to other government organisations”.
Following a tender process, Ballasalla-based Go Green has been chosen to install the array of solar panels.
Steven Elkins, Director of Go Green, stated: “Green energy transformation is a revolution and we commend Braddan Commissioners for their foresight into future-proofing new buildings and a commitment to improving our Manx environment”.
28th July 2022 in News

Braddan Commissioners’ AGM – 26 May 2022

           

Braddan Parish Commissioners held their Annual General Meeting on Thursday 26 May and are pleased to announce that Mr Andrew Jessopp was re-elected as Chairman for the next Municipal year.

Mr Jessopp has served as Chairman to the Commissioners since May 2013.

Mr Andrew Morgan was elected as Vice Chairman, taking over duties from the previous Vice Chairman, Mr John Quaye. It is Mr Morgan’s first term in the role, having only been elected as a Commissioner in August 2021.

The Chairman stated that the past year had continued to be challenging, but:

“The Board and it’s Officers have worked really hard to maintain the level of services to the residents and ratepayers, whilst also making further investments in improving the facilities in the parish.

It was really pleasing to finally see the completion of the 30 new Commissioners’ apartments at Mullen Doway in Union Mills and welcome the new residents, who we are sure will enjoy many years in this modern, comfortable and energy efficient development.

Progress has also continued on the new flagship ‘community hub’ at Strang Corner Field and with some good luck it should be fully operational by this time next year”.

8th June 2022 in News

FORTNIGHTLY GREEN WASTE COLLECTIONS FOR BRADDAN RESIDENTS – SUMMER 2022

Please use this service instead of depositing grass cuttings in your general waste bin. Burning garden waste is expensive due to the weight and does nothing to help the environment.

A refuse vehicle will be in the car park at Braddan School on Saturday lunchtimes from 11.30 to 1pm to collect your green waste. It is then taken away and recycled into compost.

You may be asked for proof of address. We will accept:-

  • grass cuttings, hedge clippings, raw vegetable peelings etc
  • Please, no trees or branches or cooked food items.
  • Please use the entrance and exit to the school car park to avoid congestion.

 GREEN WASTE DATES – SUMMER 2022

Saturdays – 11.30am – 1pm

  • 30th April
  • 14th May
  • 28th May
  • 18th June
  • 2nd July
  • 16th July
  • 30th July
  • 13th August
  • 3rd September
  • 17th September
23rd March 2022 in News, Waste

Issuing of 10 year leases to tenants at Braddan Community Centre

Public Notice

The Commissioners wish to give notice that the following Petition will be submitted to the Department of Infrastructure on Monday 4th April 2022 in accordance with Section 25 of the Local Government Act 1985.

Issuing of 10 year leases to tenants at Braddan Community Centre

The construction of the new community centre in Braddan commenced in May 2021 and is expected to be completed in April 2023.

There are 8 Units that are to be leased out commercially.

The Local Government Act 1985, Paragraph 25 (2) relating to the Acquisition and disposal of land, states inter alia that the consent of the Department is required for issuing a lease on land for any more than 7 years.

The Commissioners, having taken into consideration the financial investment by both parties, and the need to offer longer term leases to attract tenants who will fully commit to the scheme, are of the opinion that a 10 year lease would be more appropriate.

The Commissioners offered the Units by tender and have subsequently allocated the 8 Units for the following purposes:

  • Children’s nursery
  • Gymnasium
  • Baby sensory, singing and signing clinic
  • Dispensing Pharmacy
  • Beautician
  • Physiotherapy and Podiatry clinics
  • Coffee shop
  • Children’s soft play area

The rental income annually is in the region of £250,000 with a triennial review.

The Commissioners have been asked by some of the tenants to maintain their anonymity as the matter is commercially sensitive at this stage in the project.

They have entered in to Heads of Agreements with all parties and wish to issue formal leases at the beginning of 2023.

The Commissioners respectfully request the Department’s approval to issue 10 year leases.

J C Whiteway MBA

Clerk to Braddan Commissioners

colin@braddan.im

 

22nd March 2022 in News

Expressions of Interest Sought – QS & Architect for housing projects

Braddan Parish logo

Braddan Parish Commissioners
Notice to Contractors – Expressions of Interest

Applications are invited from experienced, suitably qualified persons,
companies or organisations interested in being included on a Select List
of Tenderers for two housing refurbishment schemes.

– Scheme One: A Quantity Surveyor to head a team to refurbish 12
bungalows. Works include replacement kitchens, central heating and
external decoration.

– Scheme Two: An architect to head a team to replace roofs, doors and
windows on 18 properties (which are divided into 4 blocks)

Further details of the schemes are available from the Clerk.

To register your interest in this enquiry please write to:

J C Whiteway MBA
Clerk to the Commissioners
Close Corran
Union Mills
Braddan
IM4 4LZ

Or email: colin@braddan.im

The closing date by which expressions of interest must be received is noon on Friday 18th March 2022.

2nd March 2022 in News

Braddan Commissioners’ – Rates set for 2022/2023

Braddan Commissioners Rate set at 230p in the pound

At a meeting held on 24 January 2022, Braddan Commissioners set their Parish Rate at 230p in the pound.

However new for 2022, is the introduction of a fixed Refuse Charge of £82.00 which is the average cost per household across the parish of the disposal of domestic waste.

The Commissioners’ Chairman Andrew Jessopp stated by highlighting this cost, the Board hopes to encourage households to put less in their bin and make more use of the kerbside and green waste recycling services which are already provided. This charge follows the “polluter pays” principle and ratepayers can have a direct influence on future refuse costs by recycling more which will reduce the current disposal costs at the Energy from Waste Plant.

Mr Jessopp advised that the overall increase was as a result of:  an increase in things like the cost of disposal of waste at the Energy from Waste Plant, funds to defend against the inappropriate building on green field sites in the Parish, but also some major costs on things which will however greatly improve facilities for ratepayers. These included:-

  • Funding for the continuing construction of the leisure facility at the Strang, which is due for completion in the latter stages of the 2022-2023 financial year. The slightly delayed completion means we have not been able to include any income from this development in the forthcoming financial year
  • The Authority’s contribution toward the development of a new Household Waste Recycling Centre for the Eastern area at Middle Park.
  • The shared funding with Douglas Corporation and Zero Waste Mann, of an officer on a one year contract to promote recycling.

To put the increase into perspective, the new rate on a typical three bedroomed property would be £339.60 per year, an increase of £1.71 per week.

1st February 2022 in News